Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the second busiest in the U.S. by flight volume, could soon make queer history. Among the many proposals for new concession spaces at the airport is a bold and beautiful pitch from Sidetrack, the iconic gay bar based in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood since 1982.
If selected, Sidetrack would become the first gay bar inside an airport in the United States—and quite possibly, the world. The proposal is being led by restaurateur Germán González, managing partner of Somos Hospitality Group. He’s backed by Sidetrack’s co-owners, Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña, who plan to invest and license the brand for a new space in Terminal 1.
González says a Sidetrack at O’Hare would offer much more than cocktails and vibes,
“We need to have presence. We need to have a seat at the table. We need to have representation everywhere.”
Johnston, now 81, adds,
“We have made this a better city, a stronger city, and why not show that to the world?”
With over 80 million passengers passing through O’Hare each year, Johnston says,
“There are people from red states who don’t think they’ve ever met a gay person — and they’ll get a look at who we are and how much a part of this city we are.”
Final decisions from O’Hare are months away—but queer travelers across the country are watching—and hoping—for liftoff.
